Sunday, May 04, 2008

Mascherano Targets Beijing

Javier Macherano, who should line up for Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield today, has warned his manager, Rafael Benítez, of a potential showdown over playing in this summer's Beijing Olympics.

'It is a difficult situation,' Mascherano said of his wish to try to help Argentina retain the title won in Athens four years ago. 'It's very important for any footballer to win the Olympics.'

Fifa rules state that anyone selected must travel, even if they are one of the three over-23 players allowed. Didier Drogba, his Ivory Coast team-mate Salomon Kalou and Serbia's Branislav Ivanovic, all at Chelsea at present, have, like Mascherano, been selected for their country's preliminary squads. Additional players can be added, so Chelsea's Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel could also be absent for a competition that ends on 21 August.

Manchester United may lose Argentina's Carlos Tevez, while Arsenal could lose Kolo Touré to Ivory Coast and Gilberto to Brazil. Clubs can only stop players going by pleading with the respective national associations, but the clubs have accepted this is unlikely. Instead, one executive from a Big Four club told Observer Sport: 'We will try and hold players back for as long as possible.'

Mascherano, though, seems adamant he will play. 'I know that Liverpool has a big game around when I have to go, but we will decide with the manager.' And if Liverpool say no? 'We didn't talk about this because we had big games but now we have time. I want to play for my country.'

Other clubs that may suffer include Newcastle United - who have Nigeria's Obafemi Martins and Geremi of Cameroon - and Everton, who could lose Yakubu to Nigeria.

Mascherano's clubmate Jamie Carragher has begged for an end to the very public row between co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, lest Benítez becomes disgruntled enough to quit during the summer. 'The best clubs are always the ones you don't hear much from behind the scenes,' he said. Is there concern in the Liverpool dressing room that Benítez may walk? 'Of course, he's done a great job - he was employed to take us to Champions League finals and semi-finals, and done that.'

Liverpool have been told to double their £3million bid for teenage midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who is part of Cardiff City's FA Cup final challenge.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards will not play today and is unlikely to be fit to appear against Middlesbrough on Sunday, so will miss England's summer friendlies. 'The club comes first. I'm just focused on getting fit,' he said.

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